Signalling means for use with a moving tender



y 1970 c. c. BELL. ETA!- 3,510,862

SIGNALLING' MEANS FOR USE WITH A MOVING TENDER v Filed March 28, 1967 V nrm/zm ys United States Patent O US. Cl. 340-259 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sensing system for detecting a yarn strand in a textile operation comprises in combination: a yarn feeler and electrical signaling means in operable association, an air jet and air receiver in operable association with a registration vane, and a fluid pressure transducer in fluid communication with the air receiver. The electrical signaling means and transducer are connected in series. The yarn feeler, signaling means, and fluid system are mounted on a patrolling tender for controlling a textile operation. The registration vane is on the textile unit being controlled by the tender. The yarn sensing system will detect the absence of a yarn strand in the textile operation but will only stop the patrolling tender if the yarn strand is missing at a work station as signified by fluid flow and the registration vane.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to textile equipment and machinery. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved sensing system for the detection of a yarn strand in. a textile operation which, in the absence of a yarn strand, will automatically stop a work cycle or initiate a servicing operation.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART Various textile operations are encountered in which a yarn strand is running or fed from one position to another. In automatic equipment of the aforesaid type, it is necessary to detect when the yarn strand is broken or when a yarn threading operation has not been properly effected. Yarn sensors or feelers are, therefore, employed in such textile machinery which are actuated by a mechanical or electrical signal in the absence of a yarn strand. Most all equipment employing yarn sensing systems are stationary and, therefore, the yarn sensing system is relatively simple with the greatest concern being in the development of a detector which is sufficiently sensitive to detect a missing yarn strand, but which is not so sensitive as to be accidentally actuated when a yarn strand is present, inadvertently interrupting the operation in progress.

More recently, however, a spinning unit controlled by a patrolling tender was disclosed in our commonly assigned U.S-. Pat. No. 3,403,866 issued Oct. 1, 1968. In the operation of the aforesaid device, it is essential that the absence of a yarn strand be detected by the mobile tender, but the device only stopped when the strand is missing at a spinning station. The aforesaid US. Patent describes alternate yarn sensing systems. However, although operative, the systems described have various shortcomings from the standpoint of simplicity, reliability, and the like.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn sensing system for use with textile machinery which has extremely high amplification, but is not critically sensitive to malfunction variables.

It is another object of this invention to provide a yarn sensing system which can be employed on a patrolling tender in a textile operation which will detect the absence of a yarn strand at a spinning station, stop the tender, and initiate a servicing operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a yarn sensing system which can be employed on a patrolling tender in a spinning operation comprising a yarn feeler and registration vane, whereby the yarn feeler will detect the absence of yarn strand but due to the cooperation of the registration vane, will only stop the tender and initiate a servicing operation when the yarn strand is absent at a spinning position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a yarn sensing system which can be employed on a mobile unit in a textile operation comprising in combination: a yarn feeler and electrical signalling means in operable association, an air jet and air receiver in association with a registration vane, and a fluid pressure transducer in fluid communication with the air receiver, whereby the yarn feeler will detect the absence of the yarn strand during the patrol, but will only interrupt the patrol of the tender when the registration vane and fluid flow signify that the strand is missing at a spinning station.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawing.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention are obtained by constructing a sensor system comprising a yarn feeler, electrical signaling means associated with the yarn feeler, an air jet and air receiver associated with a registration vane and a fluid pressure transducer in communication with the air receiver. The yarn feeler and electrical signaling means are constructed and arranged on a patrolling tender for controlling a textile operation whereby an electrical circuit is completed as long as the yarn feeler is in contact with a yarn strand. In the event the yarn strand is missing, the electrical circuit is broken. However, the electrical circuit is connected in series with a. relay associated with the aforesaid fluid pressure transducer, which in turn is in communication with the air receiver. The fluid flow system is constructed and arranged on the patrolling tender so that the air receiver, and thus the transducer, is continuously supplied with air from the air jet as the tender travels in front of, or adjacent to, the textile unit except at a work station where a registration vane on the textile unit interrupts the air flow, exhausts the transducer, and opens a contact signaling that the tender is at a work station. In the event a yarn strand is absent at the work station, both circuits are open and the tender is stopped and a servicing operation initiated. However, if a yarn strand is present, the tender will not stop even though the transducer is exhausted and the relay opened since the circuits, being connected in series, require both circuits to be open simultaneously to stop the tender. Similarly, if a yarn strand is missing and the tender is not at a work station, the patrol of the tender is not interrupted.

Although reference is made herein to an automatic spinning operation, no attempt is made to provide a detailed description of the aforesaid type of machinery. However, our prior cited U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866 is incorporated into the present disclosure by reference. Only enough of the structure of the machinery will be set forth as needed to define the operation of the present sensing system. The method and techniques of adapting the present system to a textile device of the type indicated, in view of our earlier disclosure, is within the ability of one skilled in the art and does not require detailed discussion herein.

Having described the improved yarn sensing system in general terms, reference will be made to the drawing to define the preferred embodiment and give a more complete explanation of its operation.

THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement of the improved yarn sensing system;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the yarn feeler, air jet and receiver, transducer, and registration vane on an automatic spinning unit;

FIG. 3 is a detailed front view of a preferred embodiment of the yarn feeler; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the yarn feeler of FIG. 3.

More specifically, a yarn feeler 1 is mounted by means of pivot 1.3 on the frame of a patrolling tender 7 for a spinning machine of the type described in the prior cited United States patent. The yarn feeler 1 comprises a depending bail 1.1 and a portion 1.4 extending generally upwardly from the pivot pin 1.3. A small magnet 1.2 is attached. The magnet 1.2 is in operable association with a magnetic switch 2 which will either make or break an electrical circuit when contacted by said magnet. An air jet 3 and air receiver 4 in communication with a transducer 5 are also mounted on the frame of the patrolling tender 7. The air jet 3 blows air into the receiver 4 which is then delivered through conduit 6 to the fluid pressure transducer 5. The transducer 5 can be of conventional design and comprises a diaphragm 5.1 in operable association with a stern 5.2 which holds the contacts 5.3 of a sensor relay 5.4 open when the transducer 5 is receiving a supply of air. A registration vane 8 is mounted at each spindle or spinning station of the spinning machine as at 9 and is constructed and arranged to automatically interrupt the air jet when the patrolling tender 7 is at each spindle or spinning station of the spinning machine.

In operation, the patrolling tender 7 controlling a textile operation travels in front of or adjacent the spinning machine. Between spinning stations, the bail 1.1 of the yarn feeler 1 drops down, moving the magnet 1.2 carried on portion 1.4 at the opposite end of yarn feeler 1 away from the magnetic switch 2, thereby closing the contact. At a spinning station bail 1.1 contacts yarn strand Y opening the contact. When tender 7 is not at a spinning station, air jet 3 continuously feeds air into air receiver 4 and to transducer 5 maintaining contact 5.3 open. Therefore, since relay from the transducer 7 and switch 2 operated by yarn feeler 1 are connected in series, the tender is not stopped between stations even though bail 1.1 is not in contact with a yarn strand Y. However, if yarn strand Y is missing at a spinning station and both contacts, i.e., 2 and 5.3 are closed, a signal element 10 on tender 7 is actuated and the tender stopped and a servicing operation started.

The yarn feeler 1 employed in the present invention can be any material which is relatively light and possesses the necessary strength permitting it to be pivotally mounted. Yarn feeler 1, however, preferably is constructed to provide a bail 1.1 in order that the portion of feeler 1 which is to contact yarn strand Y is relatively 'wide in comparison to the yarn feeler at the region of pivot 1.3. By utilizing the aforesaid design, it is ensured that the yarn feeler will be in contact with yarn strand Y prior to registration vane 8 acting to cut ofi the air flow to transducer 5 and opening contact 5.3. Moreover, it is preferred that the bail 1.1 at its extreme end be bent or turned at substantially right angles as shown at 1.15 (see FIG. 4) ensuring that the entire yarn feeler is positioned above yarn strand Y. The opposite end of the yarn feeler, i.e., the portion 1.4 extending beyond pivot 1.3, need only be sufliciently broad to provide structural strength for retaining magnet 1.2. Obviously, in place of the magnetic switch 2 and magnet 1.2, any electrical control means can be employed herein which will make or break an electrical circuit. The magnetic switch is preferred, however, in that such switches can be operated continuously for extended periods of time without noticeable wear. Long life and reliability are critical in the present instance, since a contact is made and broken between each spinning station of the spinning machine during each patrol by the tender 7. Furthermore, although fluid pressure transducer 5 can be of conventional design, because of its exceptional sensitivity, a transducer of the type disclosed in commonly assigned Kent copending application Ser. No. 579,664 filed Sept. 15, 1966, now abandoned, is preferred. Moreover, the air for the air jets can be supplied from any conventional pump. Since the patrolling tender is preferably operated by an air motor, it may already be equipped with a supply of air.

Although the sensing system of the present invention has been described primarily with reference to a spinning device and patrolling tender, it is to be understood that the sensing system can be employed on other textile machinery utilizing a patrolling tender. It should be appreciated that the instant invention is not to be constnued as being limited by the illustrativeembodiments. It is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed. Such embodiments are within the ability of one skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a textile machine provided with a tender movable relative to at least one work station on said textile machine and operable on signal to service the material at said station; said apparatus comprising, electrical signalling means operable when energized to initiate the servicing operation of said tender, a feeler for sensing the condition of the material at said station, first electrical contact means connected with said signalling means and arranged to be closed in response to 1 sensing of the absence of material by said feeler, second electrical contact means connected in series with said first contact means, pressure operated means for controlling said second contact means, a pressure source for operating said pressure operated means, a vane fixed at said work station for interrupting the pressure to said pressure operated means upon each movement of said tender relative to said work station and when said tender is in position to service the material at the station, said second contact mean closing when the pressure to said pressure operated means is interrupted, and said signalling means being energized in response to closing of said first and second contact means simultaneously.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure operated means includes a transducer having a flexible diaphragm for operating said second contact means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the textile machine includes a plurality of work stations, said tender being movable relative to all of said work stations for servicing the material t-hereat, each said station being provided with a vane for interrupting the pressure to said pressure operated means when the tender is in position to service the material at each said station.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the feeler includes a magnet for operating said first electrical contact means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the feeler is pivotally mounted on said tender and comprises a bail at one end for engaging said material and the magnet is mounted at the other end of said feeler.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,403,866 10/1968 Bell et al. 242-475 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner P. PALAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 200-61 l 8 

